West Campus Chiller Plant

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Penn State's West Campus Chiller Plant required the design of an elevated steel platform to support rooftop cooling towers. Stahl Sheaffer performed an analysis of the existing building's structural system and the proposed platform's connection to the existing roof framing. The analysis for both the existing structure and steel platform was aided by 3-D BIM software to effectively design the proposed steel platform to withstand gravity, wind and vibration loads from the proposed towers.

​Additional design was required for the proposed acoustic and screen wall enclosures for the chillers. Stahl Sheaffer Engineering designed a 30' tall steel framework to extend from the structure's existing roof to support these panels and withstand the region’s wind loading requirements. Stahl Sheaffer also provided design and documentation of a landscape addition, sump piers and maintenance, bathroom framing, additional concrete pads, VFD room framing, hard points above chillers, and new cooling tower installation. Stahl Sheaffer engineers created a 3D coordinated BIM model in Revit of new and existing conditions.